Events

Join us to discuss The Sovereignty of Good by Iris Murdoch

Monday 24^th October, 7^th November and 21^st November – online.

This online reading group follows on from an event held in June 2022 at Somerville College where postgraduates and early career researchers discussed the concept, coined by Murdoch, of 'loving attention'. Participants will explore similar themes relating to attention, beauty, imagination, humility, perfection and the good.

The group will meet three times on Monday evenings over Zoom starting at 8.00pm on October 24th, November 7th and November 21st. We'll discuss one essay each week (online access is available via Solo).

Sign-up here to receive the Zoom log-in details. For further details contact [email protected]

The Stella Aldwinckle Series honours the life and example of Stella Aldwinckle (Oxford Pastorate Women’s Chaplain from 1941- 1966) who, encouraged by Somerville students, set up the University’s hugely successful Socratic Club in 1942. The Socratic Club became famous as a centre for philosophical and theological discussions. Presided over by C S Lewis, and with contributions from great thinkers including Iris Murdoch, Elizabeth Anscombe and Dorothy L Sayers, the focus was on exploring the big questions of philosophy in ways which connected with lived realities. Aldwinckle modelled an approach which engaged those of differing disciplines, philosophies and faiths in fruitful dialogue and good disagreement.